Automobile trailer hitch



Jan. 17, 1950 2,495,136

A. P. ROTH AUTOMOBILE' TRAILER HITCH Filed May l5, .1947 5 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR. ARNOLD ID. ROTH ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1950 A. P. ROTH AUTOMOBILETRAILER HITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1947 Flc-:1.13

- INVENTOR. ARNOLD F. ROTH .Im M 5 la 3 /f/WW/ ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 195o A.P. ROTH 2,495,136

AUTOMOBILE TRAILER HITCH Filed May 15, 1947 K 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.ARNOLD P ROTH BY /Q/MM W/ Patented Jan. 17, 1950 .t UNET ED S'lA'I- ESPA'I? GQEF'ICE'f 2,495,136; AUTOMOBILE TRAILEBCHITGH Arnold P. Roth,Wickliffe; Ohio Applicationlviayfl; 1947; ,Serial No;4 .7M-,641,

4' Claims.

This inventionA relates.- to hitch devices for hitchingorattachingaatrailer.vehicle to anautof.

` known. A- vvell.`

bumper of the automobile; and a universal joint.

betweenthem-.of the ball andrsocketclass.,

Thei forwardv part,` attached tothe. automobile; bumper, usuallyVcomprisesthe ball ofv thejoint,v and may;` be left. permanentlyattached. to the` bumper; after once :being installedand in usethe.

trailer part.. of; the device is mountedonor` demounted from@ theballtof,l attach and detachfthe trailer.

The, present. invention 4 relates` tojhitch.` devices Eon a numberof.yearsthe:automobilebumper was'v designed to bevpurely functionaland.. come prised: simply. a strip of1steel=sometimesconcavoconvexincross section,` vviththe upper edge di,-V rectly,` abovefthelovverredge; Vandthe forwardpart oftI prior hitch devices of the type.referredtocomprised asimpleclamp operable to grip-these edges to mountit on the-automobile.

l However inrecent years the evolution of; ornamental contours, inthedesign ofI automobiles, has-.been-extended to include thebumpers s othat in many makes of automobiles thebumper does nothave such anupsper,andalower edge, to receive such a..clamp.

Automobile bumpersirr general aremade-from sheet metal. In some cases,the-topandbottom portions are inthe form., of. thin edges of the metal.1in.` other cases, the edge is turned inwardly out, of. sight eithery atthe topor at the` bottornorr both; In; some casesthe.bumper liesin'substantially averticalplane; in, other cases, it. is, upwardly,`rearwardlyV inclined and` convex forwardly. Thereis., thus a, greatrange of. sizes andvariety of shapes.`

A problem therefore has arisen to: construct thepart off the trailerhitch which attaches to the bumper so thatf it is adaptableto, grip thebumper to attachit thereto, no matter Whatthe contour or cross.sectional form. of. thebumper, may, be, among the variousmakes and. yearmod. els andv ornamental designs. of automobiles.

It isAthej-object ofpthegpresent invention to -solve this problemby alsingle constructionfof. hitchdee vice.

'Ihevdevice4 of. the present invention comprises among; other vfeaturesanl upper and a lower javv element with means to dravv` therrrV togetherto gripfand clampthe bumper. betweenithem; and one'j of the-- jawelements, preferably the. upper one, is; made horizontally adjustableto,` reach back. and, gripw the top, of.A the bumper. when, in formi.,ity is upward1y-- rearwardly. inclined.;- and 2. the gripping: parts ofjthe. jaw. elements-r are; formedP so; as.A to, engagel and; grip. the.top.. andi bottom of` the:y bumper, with equal] effectiveness: whetherboth or either of And; the. invention.v comprises other features.,Whichrender itsimple to constructand assente.. ble and cheap to produceand easy tormountmn, thefbumper; and. effective int. operation..

They invention is.. fully.v disclosed in. the follow,... ingldescription taken` in connectionlwith the-,ac-

companying. drawing, in. which:

. lartova par-t of. Fig.,2.illustratinga modificationL which may. beAutilized ;V

Figs. Sfto 13.a re diagrammaticviews. generally. similar to Fig. 1andillustratingthe manner. in3 which theinventionis applicabletObeattaohed'g. to,J various forms. of.. automobile. bumper;A

Fig. 14; isauiew similar toV Fig. 1. illustrating, a.- ino d ication,

Referringto the drawing,.Eigs. 1 to lthereois4 shown at l a frameelement, which, i'n the posijs. tion of. use. illustrated, comprisesavertical.- leg 2.; andranupper. horizontalvleg 3;; and' vvliiclriA is.preferably made by cutting. off! a` length. of.. flat., steel bar andbending it.

Ontheorward face oi thebar is Welded' (asat' t.)` a,b r,acl et 5.1, on,which` is mounted theb.a11? 6. of, the;4 wellv known. universal.ball-.and-socketl joint commonly, employedrin devices of. tliisclass.`as referred. to above.,

Mountedfupon,A the upper.l sidey of, the leg., 3 is.. an. uppervsteelclampjaw elementi., By, means,that.` will become =1,ear.,.theiawelementi. may bead-n justalolyV positioned in horizontal,ldirections.` on. the,A leg. 3 and secured in each adjusted. DDSGDIL. andthis element. and. its, adjustment' andi Operar tive functions.,constitute4 an,4 important' feature off'the` invention.

A constraining and guidingsteelloop B fgor the jaw elementi isprovidedbs means of ad'own.- wardly, openv U.form steel"l strap 9,'lyingA onn top of. the. jawr element; 1j andi at' its. ends." everlalefypinstheedgesothe i elmentandweldd at. lo' to` the, side, edges. of the.jawA element. T7. see Fig. 3j.,

The jaw element 1' has a slot, II,r (Eig, 49; punched, out. therefrom,the. side edges. of; the

them is a thin,metallvv edge,i or a bent., over, rounded` edge.`

slot being toothed or serrated as at I 2. A washer I3 is provided havingteeth I4 on opposite side edges thereof loosely intermeshed with theserrations I2; and has a clamp bolt hole I5 therein, through which a jawclamp bolt I extends.

In the assembled operative positions of the` parts as illustrated, thejaw element 1, lies upon the upper leg 3; the washer I3 in the slot IIalso lies on the upper leg 3; the clamp bolt I6 extends through the holeI5 in the washer, and through a perforation I1 provided in the upper leg3. The jaw element 1 is thus locked against shifting horizontally on theleg 3 and its locked horizontal position may be adjustably changed bysmall steps by lifting out the washer from the slot and sliding the jawelement 1 along on the leg 3 in its loop 8 and replacing the washer I3,`meshing its teeth I4 with a different set of teeth I2.

Upon the underside of the leg 3 is welded as at I8 a pair oftransversely spaced V-blocks I9-I9 having mutually aligned downwardlyopen V-notches 6Fl-60 therein.

The outer (left) end portion of the jaw element 1 is bent downwardly asat 20 providing a dihedral corner 2|. A short length of channel sectionsteel 22 is provided for optional use (to be described) and may bemounted in the position 'of Fig. 1 by a bolt 23 welded to its web andprojected through a perforation 24 in the jaw element I to receive aclamping nut 25.

A lower steel horizontal jaw element 26 is provided having a clamp boltperforation 21 axially aligned with the clamp bolt perforation I1; andtheyouter (left) end portion is bent upwardly as at 28 providing adihedral corner 29. Inwardly of the end portion 28 isa pair oftransversely spaced V-blocks SII-3U having mutually aligned upwardlyopen V-notches 3I--3I therein, mounted on the upper side of the jawelement 26 preferably directly under the V-blocks I9-I9, and foroperative purposes (to be described) are removably mounted, and to thisend have bolts 32-32 welded thereto and projected through perforations33-33 in the jaw element 26 to receive mounting clamp nuts 34-34, seeFig. 5.

The horizontal jaw element 26 continues into avertical leg 35 lyingalong the inside of the frame leg 2.

vThe main jaw clamp bolt I6 referred to and as partly described extendsdownwardly through the perforation 21 and has a head 36 under the jawelement 26.

A nut 31 is threaded on the upper end of the clamp bolt I6 above the jawelement 1; and the nut 31 may be turnedto exert a clamping force betweenthe nut 31 and bolt head 36.

As will presently be explained, in some applications an automobilebumper will be clamped between the V-blocks 30-30 and I9--I9; and inother applications will be clamped between the V-blocks 30-30 and thejaw element 1, independently of the V-blocks I9-I9; and in otherapplications will be clamped between the jaw elements 1 and 26independently of the V-blocks. In either case, turning the nut 31 willexert this clamping action, drawing the jaw element 26 upwardly and thejaw element 1 or it and the frame leg 3 downwardly; and in thisconnection the washer I3 may be thinner than the jaw element 1, so thatthe clamping pressure of the nut 31 will be exerted on the jaw element1, and transmitted to the leg 3 and not be exerted on the washer I3.

Figs. 8 to 13 illustrate a few of the many forms of bumper upon whichthe device may be clamped, and its corresponding modes of operation; thebumper in each instance being illustrated in cross section.

In Fig. 8 is shown at 38 a bumper such as was provided generally on carsbefore the advent of artistic contours, and many of which are still inuse. It has upper and lower edges 39-40approximately in verti-calalignment. In this case the jaw element 1 may be disposed by horizontaladjustment as described to any convenient position, since it is not usedas such. The edges 39 and 40 are placed in the V-notches of the V-blocksI 9 and 30 and clamped therebetween as described.

In Fig. 9 is shown at y4I a bumper having upper and lower edges 42-43,but inclined, the upper edge 42 being rearwardly of the lower edge 43.In this case the lower edge 43 is placed in the notches of the V-blocks30 and the upper edge 42 is placed in the dihedral corner 2I; and thejaw element 1 is adjusted horizontally accordingly.

In Fig. 10 is shown at 44 a still more inclined bumper, .clamped asdescribed for Fig. 8, but after adjusting the jaw element 1 stillfarther to the left; and at 45 is shown a similar bumper, but given someornamental contour by a more convex forward bulge as at 46 and abent-over upper termination 41 the latter being lodged in the dihedralcorner 2I. Y

In Fig. 11 is shown at 48 a bumper having so much forward bulge as at 49that if its upper edge were lodged in the dihedral angle 2| the bumperwould engage and foul upon the adjacent V-blocks I9--I9. To giveclearance, the channel 22 is mounted as described (as an accessory) andthe upper edge of the bumper is lodged in the dihedral corner at 50provided between the web of the channel 22 and the end portion 20 of thejaw element 1.

In Fig. 12 is shown at 5I a more ornamental bumper, rearwardly inclined,and having both its upper and lower edges bent over inwardly as at 52and 53. In this case, the upper edge is lodged in the dihedral corner2|; the lower V-blocks 30-30 are unbolted and removed, and the loweredge of the bumper is lodged in the dihedral corner 29.

In Fig. 13, a bumper 54 is shown similar to that in Fig. 12 but withmore of a forward bulge and clearance with the upper V-blocks I9--I9 isprovided as described for Fig. 11 by the channel 22. This figureindicates that the dihedral corner 29 is provided at a minimum distancehorizontally from the clamp bolt I6, to accom-4 modate bumpers with themaximum forward bulge as at 55.

In the foregoing examples, which are illustrative of the many differentforms of bumper encountered, it will be apparent that the device shouldtake up a position on the bumper so that the ball 6 (shown in Fig. 1 butomitted from these illustrative figures for simplicity) will be verticaland function normally, and that this is done by corresponding horizontaladjustments of the jaw element 1.

In the form of the invention above described this adjustment is made bysmall steps made possible by the toothed washer I3 and toothed slot II.In some cases, a simpler adjustment with larger steps may suce, and thisis shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Here the jaw element 1A is provided with aseries of holes 56-56 for the bolt I6. In any instance, if these stepsof adjust- 'gnomes nient are too great an intermediate step may beprovided by a block 51 (as an accessory) mounted on the end portion 2li,and providing a dihedral corner 58 for the described purposes, which isfarther rearward by say one-half a step than the dihedral corner 2|.

'The block 51 may be an accessory channel piece such as was describedabove and shown at 22 in Figs. 1 and 11; and may be mounted by means of'a perforation 59 in theend portion 20, as shown in Fig. 6. The hold 2dmay also be provided, and the channel piece 51 mounted thereat andutilized if desired in the same manner as described for the channelpiece 22 or Fig.

n this form of Figs. 6 and '1, instead 'of a cornplete loop (suchV as ats in the first described form) the middle part ofthe loop strap e isdispensed with resulting in tongues 9A-9A overlapping the opposite sidesof the jaw element 1A; the purpose and functions of these tongues beingthe same as those of the complete loop e above described.

It will be noted that the V-blocks I9 and 30 comprise in each form twoparts spaced apart transversely, which gives a more rigid and stablegrip on the bumper than would be had with only a single V-block ornotch; although this is not an essential feature.

As mentioned, the vertical leg 35 (Fig. 1) of the lower clamp jawe1ement 2B, simply lies or overlaps the inner side of the frame leg 2without being secured to it. For bumpers of different verticaldimensions these parts therefore simply 'slide upon each other as thejaw together or farther apart in adapting the device to the size ofbumper.

It has beenA found to be unnecessary to fasten these parts 35 and 2 toeach other and complication is thereby avoided. In the transversedirection as indicated in Fig. 2 the overlap of part 35 on part 2 iscoe'xtensive with part 2, and the broad area of contact between themkeeps the lower jaw element 26 from rotating on the bolt I6; and thiskeeps the jaw element 26 always in position directly under 'the leg 3and jaw element 1, making it simple and easy to apply the device "toboth the Yupper and lowerredges of 'the bumper.

Similarly the loop 8 of Fig. 1 (or the 'tongues 9A of Fig. '7) embracingthe upper jaw elementi keep it from rotating around the bolt I6 for alike purpose as well as keeping it in position upon the top of the leg 3and allowing it to slide horizontally while being adjusted.

While for convenience, the element 1 in the form of Fig. 1 and theelement 1B in the form of Fig. A6 is in each case referred to above 'asthe upper jaw element, 'and while these elements 'as described dofunction 'as the upper jaw elements when the dihedral corner 2i is usedland the V-blocks |9--l9 are not used, it is a fact that the leg 3functions as the upper jaw element when the V-blocks IS-l 9 are used. Inprinciple therefore the upper jaw element in these forms Fig. 1 and Fig.6, is in two parts, the element 1 or 1A and the leg 3; and in principlethis two part upper jaw element can be shortened or lengthened by thedescribed adjustment; and the V-blocks l9-l9 can be used for theshortest length of jaw element and for other lengths of jaw element thedihedral corner 2l as described can be used.

The device is claimed in some of the claims as embodying this principle.

As further emphasizing the fact that within the scope of the inventionthe upper jaw elements are moved closer' whole can be lengthened orshortened whether the V-blocks IQ-IB or the dihedral corner 2| is used,there is shown in Fig. 14 a form in which both are on the saine,adjustably positionable jaw element.

In the modification of Fig. 14 the upper V-blocks, here 19A- ISA aredetachably mounted on the underside of the upper jaw element here 1B, bybolts 6! welded to the V-blocks and projected upwardly through holes 62in the jaw element 1B and secured by nuts 63.

When the dihedral angle 2l is to be used to grip the top of the bumperas described above, the V-blocks ISA 'may be removed.

The structure otherwise may be the same as that of Fig. 1 or of Fig. 6.

The jaw element 113,111 this case a one-part jaw element, can beadjusted horizontally by the means hereinbefore described to positionthe V-blocks ISA-19A above the V-blocks 3'0-30 as illustrated in Fig.14; or adjusted toward the left to position the dihedral corner 2|,wherever wanted after removal of the V-blocls's SQA-19A.

In View of the complete description of the forms of Figs. l and 6 and ofthe two types of upper jaw adjustment, it is believed that furtherdescription of the form of Fig. 14 is unnecessary.

When the device is in operation, the load of propelling forwardly atrailer v-ehicle, attached to the ball 6, there will be a tendency forthe frame leg 2 to rock rearwardly around the pressure joint of the nut31 as a fulcrum; but this tends to move the upper jaw into even greatergripping action with the bumper.

When the propelling automobile is slowed down or stopped suddenly, theinertia of the trailer vehicle will exert a great thrust forwardly onthe ball 6 and leg 2, and tend to rock the leg 2 in the forwarddirection and tend to loosen the grip of the device on the bumper; butthis is readily completely prevented and the preferred way to prevent itis to cause the vertical leg 35 (against which the frame leg 2 rests) toreact against the bolt I6. While this could be done by having the leg 35lie along the bolt lo in contact with it I prefer to have it spacedtherefrom as shown in the drawing and to provide a lip 6d projectinginwardly and terminating adjacent to or in contact with the side of thebolt l5.

Also to further counteract the forward inertia of the trailer asreferred to, I prefer to extend the frame leg 2 downwardly, as shown,until its lower end portion as at e5 is horizontally opposite the lowerjaw element 25, and will transmit force directly therethrough to thebolt IB.

I claim:

1. In a trailer hitch `device for attaching to the bumper of anautomobile, an inverted L-shaped main frame comprising a verticalportion and an upper forwardly and rearwardly extending horizontalportion; a universal joint ball secured to a forward part of thevertical frame portion; a horizontal upper jaw element horizontally,slidably, adj ustably positionable forwardly and rearwardly upon theupper side of the horizontal frame portion; guide means on thehorizontal frame portion embracing and guiding sliding movements of theupper jaw element; an upper bumpergrip on the upper jaw element; a lowerL-shaped jaw element comprising a horizontal portion having a lowerbumper-grip, and comprising a vertical portion extending upwardly fromthe horizontal portion and along the rear side of the main framevertical portion; the horizontal porelement aS a 15 tions of the lowerjaw element and of the main frame being provided with axially alignedperforations, and the upper jaw element being provided with aperturemeans; a clamp bolt projected through the aligned perforations, and alsothrough the aperture means in all forwardly and rearwardly adjustedpositions of the upper jaw element.

2. In a trailer hitch device for attaching to the bumper of anautomobile, an inverted L-shaped main frame comprising a verticalportion and an upper forwardly and rearwardly extending horizontalportion; a universal joint ball secured to a forward part of thevertical frame portion; a horizontal upper jaw element horizontally,slidably, adjustably positionable forwardly and rearwardly upon theupper side of the horizontal frame portion; guide means on thehorizontal frame portion embracing and guiding sliding movements of theupper jaw element; an upper bumper-grip on the upper jaw element; alower L-shaped jaw element comprising a horizontal portion having alower bumper-grip, and comprising a vertical portion extending upwardlyfrom the horizontal portion and along the rear side of the main framevertical portion; the horizontal portions of the lower jaw element andof the main frame being provided with axially aligned perforations, andthe upper jaw element being provided with aperture means; a clamp boltprojected through the aligned perforations, and also through theaperture means in all forwardly and rearwardly adjusted positions of theupper jaw element; said aperture means comprising a forwardly andrearwardly extending slot in the upper jaw element, a washer elementprovided with a clamp bolt receiving perforation, and movable in theslot to different positions to align its perforation with the saidaligned perforations in each adjusted position of the upper jaw element,and means to fix the washer in the slot in each position thereof.

3. In a trailer hitch device for attaching to the bumper of anautomobile, an inverted L-shaped main frame comprising a verticalportion and an upper forwardly and rearwardly extending horizontalportion; a universal joint ball secured to a forward part of thevertical frame portion; a horizontal upper jaw element horizontally,slidably, adjustably positionable forwardly and rearwardly upon theupper side of the horizontal frame portion; guide means on thehorizontal frame portion embracing and guide sliding movements of theupper jaw element; an upper bumper-grip on the upper jaw element; alower L-shaped jaw element comprising a horizontal portion having alower bumper-grip, and comprising a vertical portion extending upwardlyfrom the horizontal portion and along the rear side of the main framevertical portion; the horizontal portions of the lower jaw element andof the main frame being provided with axially aligned perforations, andthe upper jaw element being provided with aperture means; a clamp boltprojected through the aligned perforations, and also through theaperture means in all forwardly l and rearwardly adjusted positions ofthe upper jaw element; said aperture means comprising a lforwardly andrearwardly extending slot in the upper jaw element, having teeth on aside thereof, and a washer element in the slot resting on the upper sideof the main frame horizontal portion and provided with a clamp boltreceiving perforation, and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative tothe upper clamp element to different positions in the slot and havingteeth meshed with the slot teeth in each position thereof, to align thewasher perforation with said aligned perforations in each adjustedposition of the upper jaw element.

4. In a trailer hitch device for attaching to the bumper of anautomobile, an inverted L-shaped main frame comprising a verticalportion and an upper forwardly and rearwardly extending horizontalportion; a universal joint ball secured to a forward part of thevertical frame portion; a horizontal upper jaw element horizontally,slidably, adjustably positionable forwardly and rearwardly upon theupper side of the horizontal frame portion; guide means on thehorizontal frame portion embracing and guiding sliding movements of theupper jaw element; an upper bumper-grip on the upper jaw element; alower L-shaped jaw element comprising a horizontal portion having alower bumper-grip, and comprising a vertical portion extending upwardlyfrom the horizontal portion and along the rear side of the main framevertical portion; the horizontal portions of the lower jaw element andof the main frame being provided with. axially aligned perforations, andthe upper jaw element being provided with aperture means; a clamp boltprojected through the aligned perforations, and also through theaperture means in all forwardly and rearwardly adjusted positions of theupper jaw element; said aperture means comprising a forwardly andrearwardly extending series of perforations in the upper jaw elementalignable respectively with the said aligned perforations uponadjustably positioning the upper jaw element. ARNOLD P. ROTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,092,593 Seys Sept. 7, 19372,142,365 McKee Jan. 3, 1939 2,306,007 Thorp Dec. 22, 1942

